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Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began
“Page for page, I may not have ever learned more from a book.... Womb is a history book as well as a biology book but it’s also an adventure and a celebration.” —Rob Delaney, actor and author of A Heart That Works
A groundbreaking, triumphant investigation of the uterus—from birth to death, in sickness and in health, throughout history and into our possible future—from midwife and acclaimed writer Leah Hazard
The size of a clenched fist and the shape of a light bulb—with no less power and potential. Every person on Earth began inside a uterus, but how much do we really understand about the womb?
Bringing together medical history, scientific discoveries, and journalistic exploration, Leah Hazard embarks on a journey in search of answers about the body’s most miraculous and contentious organ. We meet the people who have shaped our relationship with the doctors and doulas, yoni steamers and fibroid-tea hawkers, legislators who would regulate the organ’s very existence, and boundary-breaking researchers on the frontiers of the field.
With a midwife’s warmth and humor, Hazard tackles pressing Is the womb connected to the brain? Can cervical crypts store sperm? Do hysterectomies affect sexual pleasure? How can smart tampons help health care? Why does endometriosis take so long to be diagnosed? Will external gestation be possible in our lifetime? How does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect the uterus? Why does medical racism impact reproductive healthcare?
A clear-eyed and inclusive examination of the cultural prejudices and assumptions that have made the uterus so poorly understood for centuries, Womb takes a fresh look at an organ that brings us pain and pleasure—a small part of our bodies that has a larger impact than we ever thought possible.
A groundbreaking, triumphant investigation of the uterus—from birth to death, in sickness and in health, throughout history and into our possible future—from midwife and acclaimed writer Leah Hazard
The size of a clenched fist and the shape of a light bulb—with no less power and potential. Every person on Earth began inside a uterus, but how much do we really understand about the womb?
Bringing together medical history, scientific discoveries, and journalistic exploration, Leah Hazard embarks on a journey in search of answers about the body’s most miraculous and contentious organ. We meet the people who have shaped our relationship with the doctors and doulas, yoni steamers and fibroid-tea hawkers, legislators who would regulate the organ’s very existence, and boundary-breaking researchers on the frontiers of the field.
With a midwife’s warmth and humor, Hazard tackles pressing Is the womb connected to the brain? Can cervical crypts store sperm? Do hysterectomies affect sexual pleasure? How can smart tampons help health care? Why does endometriosis take so long to be diagnosed? Will external gestation be possible in our lifetime? How does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect the uterus? Why does medical racism impact reproductive healthcare?
A clear-eyed and inclusive examination of the cultural prejudices and assumptions that have made the uterus so poorly understood for centuries, Womb takes a fresh look at an organ that brings us pain and pleasure—a small part of our bodies that has a larger impact than we ever thought possible.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2023
About the author
Leah Hazard
4 books58 followersLeah Hazard grew up in the United States and graduated from Harvard University before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a career in journalism and the arts. The birth of her first child promoted her to change direction; she is now a midwife and continues to promote positive change in the maternity services.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
October 1, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, since it promised a detailed look at the female reproductive system and the advances in medical knowledge about the womb. I was already aware that women's health is often overlooked in research and that knowledge of our organs, hormones, and body processes lags behind many other fields of medical study. It's quite shocking how many times during pregnancy/birth care I asked a question only to be told, "That's never been studied. Nobody really knows." I was really hoping to have some of those questions answered.
Having said that, I was disappointed by the content. It seemed the book wasn't aimed at providing an overview of medical knowledge and research so much as explaining the social context and history of how women's reproductive health has been marginalized in the world of medical research. That's a valid topic, and definitely plays into the dearth of current knowledge of the womb's inner workings, but it took up far too much of the book, to the exclusion of the medical/scientific information I was hoping to learn.
For example, in the chapter about periods, we are invited to ask the question "what exactly happens in the menstrual cycle and what purpose does it serve?" Rather than answering that question, the chapter delves into the experience of shame and social stigma of menstruation, and then spends several pages interviewing a person who is pushing for medication that will eliminate periods based on her opinion that periods are unnecessary. I suppose that's an interesting perspective, but it was more of a social/ideological take than a medical/scientific take.
So if you're looking for a feminist look at how women's bodies have been stigmatized and overlooked by 19th-20th century Western medicine, this is a great resource. If you're looking for a deep dive into the inner workings of the uterus, this may not be the right book.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having said that, I was disappointed by the content. It seemed the book wasn't aimed at providing an overview of medical knowledge and research so much as explaining the social context and history of how women's reproductive health has been marginalized in the world of medical research. That's a valid topic, and definitely plays into the dearth of current knowledge of the womb's inner workings, but it took up far too much of the book, to the exclusion of the medical/scientific information I was hoping to learn.
For example, in the chapter about periods, we are invited to ask the question "what exactly happens in the menstrual cycle and what purpose does it serve?" Rather than answering that question, the chapter delves into the experience of shame and social stigma of menstruation, and then spends several pages interviewing a person who is pushing for medication that will eliminate periods based on her opinion that periods are unnecessary. I suppose that's an interesting perspective, but it was more of a social/ideological take than a medical/scientific take.
So if you're looking for a feminist look at how women's bodies have been stigmatized and overlooked by 19th-20th century Western medicine, this is a great resource. If you're looking for a deep dive into the inner workings of the uterus, this may not be the right book.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2023
Back in 2019, I reviewed Hard Pushed, Leah Hazard’s memoir of being a midwife in a busy Glasgow hospital. Here she widens the view to create a wide-ranging and accessible study of the uterus. As magisterial in its field as Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies was for cancer, it might have shared that book’s ‘A Biography’ subtitle and casts a feminist eye over history and future alike. Blending medical knowledge and cultural commentary, it cannot fail to have both personal and political significance for readers of any gender.
The thematic structure of the chapters also functions as a roughly chronological tour of how life with a uterus might proceed: menstruation, conception, pregnancy, labour, caesarean section, ongoing health issues, menopause. With much of Hazard’s research taking place at the height of the pandemic, she had to conduct many of her interviews online. She consults mostly female experts and patients, meeting people with surprisingly different opinions. For instance, she encounters opposing views on menstruation from American professors: one who believes it is now optional, a handicap – for teenagers, especially – and that the body was never meant to endure 350–400 periods compared to the historical average of 100 (based on shorter lifespan plus more frequent pregnancy and breastfeeding); versus another who is concerned about the cognitive effects of constant hormonal intervention.
The book forcefully conveys how gynaecological wellness is threatened by a lack of knowledge, sexist stereotypes, and devaluation of certain wombs. Even today, little is known about the placenta, she reports, so research involves creating organoids from stem cells that act like it would. The use of emotionally damaging language like “irritable/hostile uterus,” “incompetent cervix” and “too posh to push” is a major problem. The sobering chapter on “Reprocide” elaborates on enduring threats to reproductive freedom, such as non-consensual sterilization of women in detention centres and the revoking of abortion rights. And even routine problems like endometriosis and fibroids disproportionately affect women of colour.
Hazard has taken pains to adopt an inclusive perspective, referring to “menstruators” or “people with a uterus” as often as to women and mentioning health concerns specific to transgender people. She is also careful to depict the sheer variety of experience: age at first menses, subjective reactions to labour or hysterectomy, severity of menopause symptoms, and so on. Where events have potentially traumatic effects, she presents alternatives, such as a “gentle” or “natural” Caesarean, which is less clinical and more empowering. The prose is pitched at a good level for laypeople: conversational, and never bombarding with information. That I have not had children myself was no obstruction to my enjoyment of the book. It is full of fascinating content that is relevant to all.
Here are just some of the mind-blowing facts I learned:
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
The thematic structure of the chapters also functions as a roughly chronological tour of how life with a uterus might proceed: menstruation, conception, pregnancy, labour, caesarean section, ongoing health issues, menopause. With much of Hazard’s research taking place at the height of the pandemic, she had to conduct many of her interviews online. She consults mostly female experts and patients, meeting people with surprisingly different opinions. For instance, she encounters opposing views on menstruation from American professors: one who believes it is now optional, a handicap – for teenagers, especially – and that the body was never meant to endure 350–400 periods compared to the historical average of 100 (based on shorter lifespan plus more frequent pregnancy and breastfeeding); versus another who is concerned about the cognitive effects of constant hormonal intervention.
The book forcefully conveys how gynaecological wellness is threatened by a lack of knowledge, sexist stereotypes, and devaluation of certain wombs. Even today, little is known about the placenta, she reports, so research involves creating organoids from stem cells that act like it would. The use of emotionally damaging language like “irritable/hostile uterus,” “incompetent cervix” and “too posh to push” is a major problem. The sobering chapter on “Reprocide” elaborates on enduring threats to reproductive freedom, such as non-consensual sterilization of women in detention centres and the revoking of abortion rights. And even routine problems like endometriosis and fibroids disproportionately affect women of colour.
Hazard has taken pains to adopt an inclusive perspective, referring to “menstruators” or “people with a uterus” as often as to women and mentioning health concerns specific to transgender people. She is also careful to depict the sheer variety of experience: age at first menses, subjective reactions to labour or hysterectomy, severity of menopause symptoms, and so on. Where events have potentially traumatic effects, she presents alternatives, such as a “gentle” or “natural” Caesarean, which is less clinical and more empowering. The prose is pitched at a good level for laypeople: conversational, and never bombarding with information. That I have not had children myself was no obstruction to my enjoyment of the book. It is full of fascinating content that is relevant to all.
Here are just some of the mind-blowing facts I learned:
Infant girls bleed in what as known as pseudomenses.
Research is underway to regularly test menstrual effluent for endometriosis, etc. and the uterine microbiome for signs of cancer.
The cervix can store sperm and release it later for optimal fertilization.
Caesarean section and induction with oxytocin now occur in one-third of pregnancies, despite the WHO recommendation of no more than 10% for the former and the danger of postpartum haemorrhage with the latter.
After childbirth, a discharge called lochia continues for 4–6 weeks.
There have been successful uterine transplants from living donors and cadavers.
Artificial wombs (“biobags”) have been used for other mammals and are in development; Hazard cautions about possible misogynistic exploitation.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
April 10, 2023
3.5 Stars
As someone that has suffered from a gynaecological disease for half their life (17 years), I read a lot of books about women's health and was looking forward to this book.
Womb is a very good overall look at the uterus and the history of it as well. The book is split up into very clear sections including Uterus, Periods, Conception, Pregnancy, Labour, Loss, Caesarean, PostPartum, Health, Menopause, Hysterectomy etc. Overall I think it was split up well but for me, I didn't quite think there was enough detail in each section and felt that there was more history rather than biological detail.
And that is what I felt as a whole was missing from this book. The biology of the uterus. It was hugely lacking and much wanted. I wanted to know more of the intricate workings of this organ and that was definitely missing for me.
Within the menopause section, I was also hoping for information on the medical menopause that many women with endometriosis and adenomyosis have to go through but this was completely missing. I felt sad that this was a chance to teach other's just what women with endometriosis have to deals with. Although I did find the other information on endometriosis in the book very good and highly informative.
I also missed diagrams or images in this book. There wasn't ONE image and that felt like a huge mistake to me.
Overall, it is a very well written and interesting book if you are looking more into the history of womens health and the uterus, but less so the biology of it. I would still recommend it as a good read.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
As someone that has suffered from a gynaecological disease for half their life (17 years), I read a lot of books about women's health and was looking forward to this book.
Womb is a very good overall look at the uterus and the history of it as well. The book is split up into very clear sections including Uterus, Periods, Conception, Pregnancy, Labour, Loss, Caesarean, PostPartum, Health, Menopause, Hysterectomy etc. Overall I think it was split up well but for me, I didn't quite think there was enough detail in each section and felt that there was more history rather than biological detail.
And that is what I felt as a whole was missing from this book. The biology of the uterus. It was hugely lacking and much wanted. I wanted to know more of the intricate workings of this organ and that was definitely missing for me.
Within the menopause section, I was also hoping for information on the medical menopause that many women with endometriosis and adenomyosis have to go through but this was completely missing. I felt sad that this was a chance to teach other's just what women with endometriosis have to deals with. Although I did find the other information on endometriosis in the book very good and highly informative.
I also missed diagrams or images in this book. There wasn't ONE image and that felt like a huge mistake to me.
Overall, it is a very well written and interesting book if you are looking more into the history of womens health and the uterus, but less so the biology of it. I would still recommend it as a good read.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2023
I picked up the book in the hopes of gaining scientific knowledge about the womb. The scientific aspects of the book are interspersed within social, cultural, and even political histories of the womb. This makes it difficult to glean anything medical from the book as the author switches between these aspects very rapidly. That being said, the science is good but frustratingly sparse.
On the historical side, there is a persistent tone of chronological snobbery. Every mistake that was made in the past as we increased in our understanding of the womb was made by men AND not out of lack of knowledge but out of malice and misogyny.
Even contemporaneously, every current problem left unresearched or unfunded to the author’s satisfaction is attributed to inequality, to patriarchy, to men’s desire to ignore or devalue women’s lives.
Overall, I’d recommend reluctantly so long as you can bear the snide jabs at men and tolerate the jarring use of insulting terms such as “birthing persons” and “menstruators” and “womb owners”.
On the historical side, there is a persistent tone of chronological snobbery. Every mistake that was made in the past as we increased in our understanding of the womb was made by men AND not out of lack of knowledge but out of malice and misogyny.
Even contemporaneously, every current problem left unresearched or unfunded to the author’s satisfaction is attributed to inequality, to patriarchy, to men’s desire to ignore or devalue women’s lives.
Overall, I’d recommend reluctantly so long as you can bear the snide jabs at men and tolerate the jarring use of insulting terms such as “birthing persons” and “menstruators” and “womb owners”.
June 1, 2024
Leah Hazard är amerikansk journalist, barnmorska, tvåbarnsmamma och livmoderfantast. Hennes bok Livmodern rymmer allt man kan tänka sig vilja veta om densamma, samt lite till; historia, ny och gammal forskning, myter, fakta, sjukdomar och erfarenheter även personliga, vilka författaren tar del av från läkare, kvinnor med och utan livmoder hemmahörande i olika delar av världen.
”Om vi skalar bort de laddade genus- och identitetspolitiska frågor som vi ofta överöser denna grundläggande fysiologiska process med, borde vi helt enkelt förundras över mensen som en snabb läkeprocess utan ärrbildning.”
Hazard vill ge livmodern den uppmärksamhet och upprättelse den förtjänar, och det gör hon förstås rätt i. Det är ett makalöst organ som kan skapa liv och det har både underskattats och feltolkats genom tiderna. Jag gillar att hon är ingående när det kommer till medicinska fakta om livmoderns mikrober, idéer om att man kan slippa mens (periodoprional), hormonbehandling, endometrios, pco, myom, igångsättning, kejsarsnitt, klimakteriet, könsdysfori, tvångssteriliseringar, våldtäkter, reproduktiv kontroll, livmoderstransplantation (Mats Brännström, Göteborg), framtidens ”möjligheter” med maskinell livmoder.
Det här är en klart feministisk text som inte har något som helst överseende med patriarkala strukturer, att män har experimenterat med kvinnors kroppar och att kvinnors undersökningar och kunskaper i vissa fall stulits av män. Bra ju! Men jag har svårt för tonläget som avslöjar att hon på ett irriterande sätt avgudar livmodern och Kvinnan. Det känns påträngande och flummigt och gör mig motvalls. Målet tycks vara att det ska vara ”magiskt” och en ”andlig upplevelse” för varje ”människa med livmoder” att föda barn. Och sen ”snippsauna” på det. Varför inte bara bära med sig snippan in i en vanlig bastu?
”Om vi skalar bort de laddade genus- och identitetspolitiska frågor som vi ofta överöser denna grundläggande fysiologiska process med, borde vi helt enkelt förundras över mensen som en snabb läkeprocess utan ärrbildning.”
Hazard vill ge livmodern den uppmärksamhet och upprättelse den förtjänar, och det gör hon förstås rätt i. Det är ett makalöst organ som kan skapa liv och det har både underskattats och feltolkats genom tiderna. Jag gillar att hon är ingående när det kommer till medicinska fakta om livmoderns mikrober, idéer om att man kan slippa mens (periodoprional), hormonbehandling, endometrios, pco, myom, igångsättning, kejsarsnitt, klimakteriet, könsdysfori, tvångssteriliseringar, våldtäkter, reproduktiv kontroll, livmoderstransplantation (Mats Brännström, Göteborg), framtidens ”möjligheter” med maskinell livmoder.
Det här är en klart feministisk text som inte har något som helst överseende med patriarkala strukturer, att män har experimenterat med kvinnors kroppar och att kvinnors undersökningar och kunskaper i vissa fall stulits av män. Bra ju! Men jag har svårt för tonläget som avslöjar att hon på ett irriterande sätt avgudar livmodern och Kvinnan. Det känns påträngande och flummigt och gör mig motvalls. Målet tycks vara att det ska vara ”magiskt” och en ”andlig upplevelse” för varje ”människa med livmoder” att föda barn. Och sen ”snippsauna” på det. Varför inte bara bära med sig snippan in i en vanlig bastu?
September 30, 2024
When I borrowed this (audio)book from Libby, I expected it to be a take on the uterus from a sociological and feminist angle. Because, if there is an organ that can be detailed from such angles, you bet your ass, the uterus would be the top contender! So, I don't know why a lot of reviews of the book are disappointed that it does not go more into the biological workings of the uterus. I think reading (*eye roll* ugh fine, listening) about hysteria, whether periods are necessary debates and how the uterus is marketed throughout its different stages, is far more captivating than the biology part of it. Of course, this comes from a biologist who already has a fair bit of understanding of its biology, but still, that is knowledge one can get from any textbook! And, to be entirely fair, the author goes into the endocrinology more than is necessary and to the extent that I now have a better understanding of how my uterus works!
so, if you are looking for a very feminist take on the uterus, this might be it! I agree, that some future visions that the author has envisioned may be a tad too optimistic and not grounded on scientific reality, but otherwise, pick this book up for a balanced take on the different issues that the organ goes through since its genesis till the end.
so, if you are looking for a very feminist take on the uterus, this might be it! I agree, that some future visions that the author has envisioned may be a tad too optimistic and not grounded on scientific reality, but otherwise, pick this book up for a balanced take on the different issues that the organ goes through since its genesis till the end.
April 18, 2024
Mi-a plăcut mult, mai ales prima jumătate.
July 3, 2023
An important, manifesto-esque review of the history of our (astonishingly poor) understanding of the womb. Leah Hazard, a midwife in the UK, writes with energy and conviction, traveling around the world to talk with the scientists and women who are pioneering research into the surprisingly little-known aspects of how people are made. The book is not a flat history; Hazard writes unapologetically with a feminist, even activist, angle, and she made me feel even more grateful for midwifery and the women who are serving other women in reproduction and childbirth.
January 16, 2024
We all know I love a good women's health book, but I found this one particularly good. I loved the structure of the book starting with the prepubescent uterus, moving into menstruation, child bearing and birthing and menopause. Hazard did a great job of mentioning and addressing people who do not fall neatly into the gender binary as well as those who have complicated relationships with their own uteruses (two groups being intertwined at times). I thought the final chapter was a bit meh. But I tend to be skeptical about any type of scientific future hypothesizing.
Overall, I thought that this was a really good overview of all things uterus. It balanced science, social factors, and almost poetic musings very well. I would 100% recommend it.
Overall, I thought that this was a really good overview of all things uterus. It balanced science, social factors, and almost poetic musings very well. I would 100% recommend it.
April 15, 2024
*3.5
Lettura interessante, adatta ad un pubblico molto ampio e "non esperto" in materia. Promosso.
Lettura interessante, adatta ad un pubblico molto ampio e "non esperto" in materia. Promosso.
July 9, 2023
"Pântecul" l-am văzut în Cărturești, și m-a atras prin titlul. Nu știu de ce...a avut acel vino-ncoa💓
Cărţile non-ficţiune nu sunt genul meu însă această lectură fără dialog m-a deschis orizontul legat de uter.
Cartea este despre studii legate stric de cel mai complex organ al femeii, cel care dă naștere, cel care omoară, cel care este prea puțin mediatizat si de multe ori tratat cu indiferenta. Cartea merita citita la orice varsta. Este potrivita pentru adolescente, pentru mame, pentru femeile aflate la menopauză, pentru cele bolnave, ce mai...pentru toate purtatoarele de acest miracol numit uter.
Capitolele sunt structurate de la aparitia menstruatiei pana la viitorul uterului, transplantului de uter si tot ce ne rezerva medicina.
Foarte bine documentata, atat din trecut cat si din noutatile medicale autoarea ne face mandre ca suntem femei si ne indeamna la curaj si mandrie.
Va recomand cartea pentru cultura generala si de ce nu pentru a ne aduce aminte ce inseamna cu adevarat femeia.
Mi-e mi-a plăcut.
Cărţile non-ficţiune nu sunt genul meu însă această lectură fără dialog m-a deschis orizontul legat de uter.
Cartea este despre studii legate stric de cel mai complex organ al femeii, cel care dă naștere, cel care omoară, cel care este prea puțin mediatizat si de multe ori tratat cu indiferenta. Cartea merita citita la orice varsta. Este potrivita pentru adolescente, pentru mame, pentru femeile aflate la menopauză, pentru cele bolnave, ce mai...pentru toate purtatoarele de acest miracol numit uter.
Capitolele sunt structurate de la aparitia menstruatiei pana la viitorul uterului, transplantului de uter si tot ce ne rezerva medicina.
Foarte bine documentata, atat din trecut cat si din noutatile medicale autoarea ne face mandre ca suntem femei si ne indeamna la curaj si mandrie.
Va recomand cartea pentru cultura generala si de ce nu pentru a ne aduce aminte ce inseamna cu adevarat femeia.
Mi-e mi-a plăcut.
March 23, 2023
2.5/5. It was fine and interesting but not really what I was looking for. I was expecting more biology and less sociology (but perhaps we really don’t know that much biology, as the author points out). What bothered me most was that the author mainly focused on recounting interviews on expert opinions. I would have liked more history and examining the uterus using established sociological theories on health. I also think illustrations would have greatly enhanced the book - such as during descriptions of structure of the endometrium, muscle cell signalling, and cervical crypts. Also somehow very strange to read about the uterus separate from the vagina given how functionally and structurally they are linked.
July 29, 2023
Turns out I love science writing about the female reproductive system written by women who are invested. & also I love to learn!!!
Shelved as 'not-interested'
August 3, 2023The premise sounds interesting, but then I learned that the author uses insulting terms such as "menstruators" and "birthing persons". Please, let's stop calling that "feminism".
Read
March 6, 2024enter my review? what do i think? goodreads, my review is that i think the world is dumb and the uterus is cool af. the way the author goes through what it is and what it can do in the totality of its lifecycle and not just the part with the baby was very illuminating. i almost got tricked into wanting one, until it was made clear to me that it and everyone who carries it is treated by the medical community and by the government as an economic resource to be controlled and an inconvenience to be done away with. i think the part that really stuck with me is the way the author portrayed a really diverse and textured picture of the relationship that people have with their uteruses, i feel she approached every discussion with the goal of not arguing a point but understanding. for example she talks about the movements both for and against hormonal birth control, hysterectomies, c-sections, holistic medicine (personal note that Goop is wild but they got good sunscreen), never judging any point of view but rather getting to the heart of the matter which is people with uteruses have to make these tough decisions because of a scarcity of and a distrust of medical research and a medical system that has pushed inaccurate information, mandated unnecessary procedures, and ignored solutions that could improve well-being if pursued.
good stuff. always big respect to any group that shows resilience and forges their own path in a world that was not designed with their interests in mind, and always big respect to anyone who writes in the name of celebration and survival. also thank you for explaining to me what menopause is it has never come up naturally in conversation for me to ask but i always wonder
good stuff. always big respect to any group that shows resilience and forges their own path in a world that was not designed with their interests in mind, and always big respect to anyone who writes in the name of celebration and survival. also thank you for explaining to me what menopause is it has never come up naturally in conversation for me to ask but i always wonder
Read
March 30, 2024To my discredit I can't recall many of the details in this book. What does stand out very clearly is the degree to which women have suffered needlessly by being dismissed, largely by men, who decided it was more expedient to ignore their pain, their concerns and often their fundamental well-being. If this seems an exaggeration, the New York Times states in the review that Hazard shows how "in every era, developments in women’s medical care have been colored by sexist notions about womanhood itself."
If this seems extreme, I should note that there was a steady refrain for much of the first portion of the book where the author interviewed experts (usually women) who would say "there hasn't been a lot of research in this area" or "funding is lacking". It's the reason why endometriosis is so often misdiagnosed - easier to just dismiss it as standard period cramps and a utter waste that menstrual blood which could have shed a lot of light on this ailment and helped diagnosis is studied to little by (largely male) doctors, probably because it is seen as dirty and disgusting. It's appalling that 'hostile' uterus is not merely part of the medical parlance but a standard diagnostic term for female infertility. Why isn't male impotence diagnosed as incompetent penis?
Hazard also explores how the womb changes throughout a woman's lifetime - from the earliest infancy, to adulthood, during pregnancy, post-partum and post menopause. These chapters evoked the opposite emotion - awe. Pure amazement at what the womb can do.
This book is a necessary one, a much needed corrective even if Hazard sometimes seems over-optimistic, especially in relation to medical science. I hope every man reads it.
If this seems extreme, I should note that there was a steady refrain for much of the first portion of the book where the author interviewed experts (usually women) who would say "there hasn't been a lot of research in this area" or "funding is lacking". It's the reason why endometriosis is so often misdiagnosed - easier to just dismiss it as standard period cramps and a utter waste that menstrual blood which could have shed a lot of light on this ailment and helped diagnosis is studied to little by (largely male) doctors, probably because it is seen as dirty and disgusting. It's appalling that 'hostile' uterus is not merely part of the medical parlance but a standard diagnostic term for female infertility. Why isn't male impotence diagnosed as incompetent penis?
Hazard also explores how the womb changes throughout a woman's lifetime - from the earliest infancy, to adulthood, during pregnancy, post-partum and post menopause. These chapters evoked the opposite emotion - awe. Pure amazement at what the womb can do.
This book is a necessary one, a much needed corrective even if Hazard sometimes seems over-optimistic, especially in relation to medical science. I hope every man reads it.
April 23, 2023
This book can be summed up in two sentences (and this sentence won't surprise anyone, especially those with a womb), "we lack this fundamental freedom, and all to often, we lack the knowledge of the uterus's basic functions: how it grows, bleeds, births, and transforms with life's ever-changing tides. Many of use lack even the simplest words to describe the womb and what it does, and where there is no language, there can be no self-expression".
Leah Hazard provides a detailed overview of the history of the womb, and the lifespan of the womb while interweaving the personal stories of those with wombs their experiences. Each chapter could have been a book on its own, highly recommend reading this book for a high-level understanding of the womb and its history.
Leah Hazard provides a detailed overview of the history of the womb, and the lifespan of the womb while interweaving the personal stories of those with wombs their experiences. Each chapter could have been a book on its own, highly recommend reading this book for a high-level understanding of the womb and its history.
October 20, 2023
Wow! L’écriture de ce livre est légère tout en mettant en évidence la lourdeur des enjeux autour de l’utérus. Ma perspective de cet organe a beaucoup changée avec ma lecture et je suis convaincue que même des personnes n’en possédant pas pourraient se voir agréablement surprises par ce livre. On peut y lire l’histoire de l’utérus au cours de la vie humaine, mais aussi au cours des époques ce qui remet tout en perspective et permet de bien comprendre la situation actuelle. Je recommande!
June 14, 2024
Much like menstruation, this book made me cycle through fuming anger to optimistic glee–unlike Clue Plus, however, this vital information treasure trove about basic human anatomy was not hidden behind a paywall. Capitalistic rage aside, this was a phenomenal book that I strongly believe everyone, womb-owner or not, needs to read. 10/5 stars.
April 10, 2024
having ideas…
April 15, 2024
An expressive review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 6, 2024
mam w miednicy superbohaterkę.
tak, tworzenie się życia z macicy trupa jest upiorne i fascynujące jednocześnie.
tak, tworzenie się życia z macicy trupa jest upiorne i fascynujące jednocześnie.
May 11, 2024
Impressive in its breadth and lyrical in its language - a wonderful book. Informative and, at times, deeply moving.
April 5, 2024
Fascinating feminist take on the scientific & social history surrounding complex womb-related phenomena. Left me wanting more medical detail in though.
August 11, 2024
I found this to be a fascinating read.
December 22, 2023
Womb is a fascinating exploration — biologically, culturally, socially — of the importance of this most singular of organs. One eye-opening and fabulous example: a woman's period is considered many things, nearly all of them negative, but the author asks why this monthly shedding of human tissue and scar-less healing regeneration isn't hailed as the remarkable and unique feat it is.
Womb is also quite a bit depressing. The history of women's health is replete with ignorance, neglect, and abuse, and the author documents much of it. It's amazing the human race still exists given how astonishingly stupid the male-dominated medical system has been.
I recommend Womb to all curious humans because, as the clever and accurate subtitle explains, it is after all, The Inside Story of Where We All Began.
Womb is also quite a bit depressing. The history of women's health is replete with ignorance, neglect, and abuse, and the author documents much of it. It's amazing the human race still exists given how astonishingly stupid the male-dominated medical system has been.
I recommend Womb to all curious humans because, as the clever and accurate subtitle explains, it is after all, The Inside Story of Where We All Began.
February 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommend it as a companion to Vagina Obscura by Rachel E. Gross. Hazard explores the uterus alone as part of the reproductive system, taking a chronological approach from birth to end-of-life. There is even a chapter on the future and how babies could be incubated outside the womb (which is a scary thought, at least for me!) I learned a lot about the physical processes that go on inside the body, hysterectomies, menstruation, menopause, childbirth, and more.
April 3, 2024
Disappointingly lightweight book.
Furthermore what’s infuriating is the authors use of terms like ‘people who menstruate’ and ‘birthing people’ - perhaps she could have made the book more succinct by using the word, ‘woman’.
Furthermore what’s infuriating is the authors use of terms like ‘people who menstruate’ and ‘birthing people’ - perhaps she could have made the book more succinct by using the word, ‘woman’.
March 12, 2023
Die Autorin gibt einen Überblick über die historischen, psychologischen und biologischen Aspekte einer Gebärmutter.
Einiges empfand ich in dem Buch problematisch anderes war aber auch spannend.
Die Autorin ist in ihrer Sprachnutzung nicht konsequent. Mal inkludiert sie nicht biologische Frauen in ihren Themen Rund um den Uterus, mal exkludiert sie diese.
Gleich zu Beginn wird eigentlich festgelegt, das biologische Frauen keine Ahnung von ihrem Körper haben und nur die wenigstens Ahnung vom Tracking der eigenen Periode haben - und damit leitet wird das Thema Periode in eine Art Sponsoren Werbung für die App Clue. Dabei wird groß erklärt, dass damit eine biologische Frau ihren Körper kennenlernen kann und sie sich auch keine Sorgen machen soll, welche Daten die App erhebt und was damit passiert. Thema Datenschutz wurde auch breit erklärt. Dieser Part war einfach nur seltsam.
Während des Themas Periode greift die Autorin ein Gespräch mit einer anderen Frau auf. Die darüber erzählt, welche Nachteile menstruierende Personen (Eisenmangel, Luftzufuhr erschwert, etc.) haben und wie toll es wäre diesen Prozess komplett medizinische zu unterdrücken, damit diese Personen gegenüber nicht-menstruierenden nicht mehr benachteiligt werden. Ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass an der Stelle Erklärung kommt, was die Menstruation mit dem Körper macht, stattdessen gibt sich die Autorin an der Stelle ratlos.
Es wird auch kurz eine hormonelle Verabreichung zum Thema Periode angesprochen und das diese weitestgehend unerforscht ist und man nicht zu 100% sagen kann, welche Folgen auftreten können, da jeder Körper anders auf die Einnahme einer Pille reagiert. Und diese bei Personen unter 25 Jahre problematisch wäre, da in dem Alter das Gehirn erst kognitiv voll entwickelt wäre. Damit war dann auch das Thema beendet.
Am spannendsten ist wohl die Arbeit der Autorin als Hebamme. Sie gibt Einblick in ihre Arbeit und erzählt auch von Forschungsprojekten an denen sie teilnimmt. Traurig wird es, als sie von Frauen berichtet, die mit Beschwerden zum Arzt kommen und weggeschickt werden in der Annahme, die Frauen würden sich die Beschwerden einbilden oder deren Körper wird sich schon alleine drum kümmern - bis es in einigen Fällen leider zu spät ist und die Frau dadurch z.B. auch eine Fehlgeburt dann haben. Oder das die Anzahl der durchgeführten Kaiserschnitte steigt, aufgrund fehlender Behandlungsinformationen oder weil das gesellschaftliche Bild einer Frau durch eine natürliche Geburt nicht mehr begehrenswert ist.
Während der historischen Einsicht wird nicht nur die Behandlung der Frau an dem Uterus aufgezählt, sondern auch welche physischen und psychischen Experimente gemacht wurden. Das die biologische Frau ein gewisses Erscheinungsbild waren muss, z.B. sie darf ihre schlanke Figur nicht verlieren, muss nach der Schwangerschaft direkt für den Partner wieder sexuelle verfügbar sein, darf nur eine Anzahl an bestimmten Kinder kriegen usw.
Die Zukunft der Gebärmutter wird wohl dann sehr spannend werden. Man bekam das Gefühl die Autorin würde regelrecht davon schwärmen, welche Möglichkeiten eine synthetische Gebärmutter für alle Menschen hat. Wie vorteilhaft es für biologische Frauen wäre, wo doch selbst heute während einer Schwangerschaft sie in vielen Ländern ihre Rechte an ihrem Körper abtreten müssen oder sich Frau wegen einer Fehlgeburt strafbar machen können. Das biologische Frauen mit den biologischen Männern endlich damit gleichgestellt werden und gleichzeitig wären Trans Frauen mit den biologischen Frauen gleichgestellt. Oder welche Möglichkeiten es gebe eine Gebärmutter einem Mann einzusetzen, damit er 9 Monate lang das Kind trägt und dann die Gebärmutter samt Kind rauszuschneiden.
Gravierend finde ich die Aussage, dass die Medizin die Beschwerden der Frauen abtut und teils nicht richtig untersucht. Dass sogar die Mortalitätsrate zwar in den letzten 20 Jahren um ca. 30% gesunken ist, aber täglich immer noch ca. 800 Personen während einer Schwangerschaft oder Geburt sterben. Aber anscheinend ist es wichtiger eine Bevölkerung zu schaffen, die abhängig von Medikamenten und Ärzten ist, das lohnt sich finanziell mehr.
Einiges empfand ich in dem Buch problematisch anderes war aber auch spannend.
Die Autorin ist in ihrer Sprachnutzung nicht konsequent. Mal inkludiert sie nicht biologische Frauen in ihren Themen Rund um den Uterus, mal exkludiert sie diese.
Gleich zu Beginn wird eigentlich festgelegt, das biologische Frauen keine Ahnung von ihrem Körper haben und nur die wenigstens Ahnung vom Tracking der eigenen Periode haben - und damit leitet wird das Thema Periode in eine Art Sponsoren Werbung für die App Clue. Dabei wird groß erklärt, dass damit eine biologische Frau ihren Körper kennenlernen kann und sie sich auch keine Sorgen machen soll, welche Daten die App erhebt und was damit passiert. Thema Datenschutz wurde auch breit erklärt. Dieser Part war einfach nur seltsam.
Während des Themas Periode greift die Autorin ein Gespräch mit einer anderen Frau auf. Die darüber erzählt, welche Nachteile menstruierende Personen (Eisenmangel, Luftzufuhr erschwert, etc.) haben und wie toll es wäre diesen Prozess komplett medizinische zu unterdrücken, damit diese Personen gegenüber nicht-menstruierenden nicht mehr benachteiligt werden. Ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass an der Stelle Erklärung kommt, was die Menstruation mit dem Körper macht, stattdessen gibt sich die Autorin an der Stelle ratlos.
Es wird auch kurz eine hormonelle Verabreichung zum Thema Periode angesprochen und das diese weitestgehend unerforscht ist und man nicht zu 100% sagen kann, welche Folgen auftreten können, da jeder Körper anders auf die Einnahme einer Pille reagiert. Und diese bei Personen unter 25 Jahre problematisch wäre, da in dem Alter das Gehirn erst kognitiv voll entwickelt wäre. Damit war dann auch das Thema beendet.
Am spannendsten ist wohl die Arbeit der Autorin als Hebamme. Sie gibt Einblick in ihre Arbeit und erzählt auch von Forschungsprojekten an denen sie teilnimmt. Traurig wird es, als sie von Frauen berichtet, die mit Beschwerden zum Arzt kommen und weggeschickt werden in der Annahme, die Frauen würden sich die Beschwerden einbilden oder deren Körper wird sich schon alleine drum kümmern - bis es in einigen Fällen leider zu spät ist und die Frau dadurch z.B. auch eine Fehlgeburt dann haben. Oder das die Anzahl der durchgeführten Kaiserschnitte steigt, aufgrund fehlender Behandlungsinformationen oder weil das gesellschaftliche Bild einer Frau durch eine natürliche Geburt nicht mehr begehrenswert ist.
Während der historischen Einsicht wird nicht nur die Behandlung der Frau an dem Uterus aufgezählt, sondern auch welche physischen und psychischen Experimente gemacht wurden. Das die biologische Frau ein gewisses Erscheinungsbild waren muss, z.B. sie darf ihre schlanke Figur nicht verlieren, muss nach der Schwangerschaft direkt für den Partner wieder sexuelle verfügbar sein, darf nur eine Anzahl an bestimmten Kinder kriegen usw.
Die Zukunft der Gebärmutter wird wohl dann sehr spannend werden. Man bekam das Gefühl die Autorin würde regelrecht davon schwärmen, welche Möglichkeiten eine synthetische Gebärmutter für alle Menschen hat. Wie vorteilhaft es für biologische Frauen wäre, wo doch selbst heute während einer Schwangerschaft sie in vielen Ländern ihre Rechte an ihrem Körper abtreten müssen oder sich Frau wegen einer Fehlgeburt strafbar machen können. Das biologische Frauen mit den biologischen Männern endlich damit gleichgestellt werden und gleichzeitig wären Trans Frauen mit den biologischen Frauen gleichgestellt. Oder welche Möglichkeiten es gebe eine Gebärmutter einem Mann einzusetzen, damit er 9 Monate lang das Kind trägt und dann die Gebärmutter samt Kind rauszuschneiden.
Gravierend finde ich die Aussage, dass die Medizin die Beschwerden der Frauen abtut und teils nicht richtig untersucht. Dass sogar die Mortalitätsrate zwar in den letzten 20 Jahren um ca. 30% gesunken ist, aber täglich immer noch ca. 800 Personen während einer Schwangerschaft oder Geburt sterben. Aber anscheinend ist es wichtiger eine Bevölkerung zu schaffen, die abhängig von Medikamenten und Ärzten ist, das lohnt sich finanziell mehr.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 18, 2024Womb is all about the uterus and its wonders. Midwife Leah Hazard writes a captivating non-fiction about what got her interested in this amazing human organ. She took me on a world tour - from museums to research laboratories to home offices of women researchers looking into the many medical and social aspects surrounding womanhood and the uterus as well as a medical surgery. She also ponders what she is learning about birth control, conception, diseases, medical attitudes and advancements, female reproductive wellness, pregnancy and postpartum through numerous eyes - that of a practitioner, a woman herself whose relationship with her uterus is changing as she approaches her menopause years, and also as the mother of two daughters.
Leah shares the initial research into the uterus, the social attitudes that used to exist towards women due to the early research, primarily conducted by men, some more humane than others, as well as the notion of hysteria that was prevalent for the longest time. She knows the UK and US healthcare systems and sometimes is also able to share what other countries have to offer. Connecting the medical professionals, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and doulas, Leah builds a beautiful narrative around the uterus, the organ that brings us to this world and how it evolves over the years.
I learned so many things from this book! The role of a midwife and doula were really to know. Also, talking about the uterus keeps the mother at the centre of pregnancy and childbirth. I didn’t know there are two kinds of C-sections. I got to read about childbirth in details I had never sought before and how different kinds of births have felt to women. The personal accounts are a highlight for me from this book. There are so many aspects of childbirth that I have never thought about before. I learned about the use of oxytocin in labour induction as well as how artificial oxytocin affects the body.
Womb gave me an opportunity to ask questions of my mom and learn about her experiences. Leah touched on this too and my mom and I also discussed the way the healthcare system affects choices in childbirth. I ended up researching the labour and birth care guidelines in Canada. While in Canada, natural birth is encouraged, in countries like Brazil, women opt for C-sections to avoid the terrible bedside manners of doctors while in India, women are pushed towards C-sections because that’s a surgery where the money is.
Womb is a great book to ponder where we all begin. It gives a holistic view of the uterus of a little girl all the way to menopause years, including the transitions into getting periods, ovulation, conception and childbirth. It brings up many aspects of having a uterus.
This is not a book where you will find diagnoses of health problems. For that, go read Karen Tang’s It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health.
Womb is a book where you will find a woman learning more about the womb in her body, an exploration of the past and the present with some speculation on where we are headed. Loved it!
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Leah shares the initial research into the uterus, the social attitudes that used to exist towards women due to the early research, primarily conducted by men, some more humane than others, as well as the notion of hysteria that was prevalent for the longest time. She knows the UK and US healthcare systems and sometimes is also able to share what other countries have to offer. Connecting the medical professionals, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and doulas, Leah builds a beautiful narrative around the uterus, the organ that brings us to this world and how it evolves over the years.
I learned so many things from this book! The role of a midwife and doula were really to know. Also, talking about the uterus keeps the mother at the centre of pregnancy and childbirth. I didn’t know there are two kinds of C-sections. I got to read about childbirth in details I had never sought before and how different kinds of births have felt to women. The personal accounts are a highlight for me from this book. There are so many aspects of childbirth that I have never thought about before. I learned about the use of oxytocin in labour induction as well as how artificial oxytocin affects the body.
Womb gave me an opportunity to ask questions of my mom and learn about her experiences. Leah touched on this too and my mom and I also discussed the way the healthcare system affects choices in childbirth. I ended up researching the labour and birth care guidelines in Canada. While in Canada, natural birth is encouraged, in countries like Brazil, women opt for C-sections to avoid the terrible bedside manners of doctors while in India, women are pushed towards C-sections because that’s a surgery where the money is.
Womb is a great book to ponder where we all begin. It gives a holistic view of the uterus of a little girl all the way to menopause years, including the transitions into getting periods, ovulation, conception and childbirth. It brings up many aspects of having a uterus.
This is not a book where you will find diagnoses of health problems. For that, go read Karen Tang’s It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health.
Womb is a book where you will find a woman learning more about the womb in her body, an exploration of the past and the present with some speculation on where we are headed. Loved it!
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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